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An unpublished opinion of the North Carolina Court of Appeals does not constitute controlling legal authority. Citation is disfavored, but may be permitted in accordance with the provisions of Rule 30(e)(3) of the North Carolina Rules of Appellate Procedure.

NO. COA09-920 NORTH CAROLINA COURT OF APPEALS Filed: 22 December 2009 IN THE MATTER OF: Burke County No. 07 J 146 D.A.H., a minor child Appeal by respondent from order dated 14 May 2009 by Judge Robert M. Brady in Burke County District Court. of Appeals 30 November 2009. No brief filed for petitioner-appellee. North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts, by Associate Legal Counsel Pamela Newell Williams, for the guardian ad litem. Duncan B. McCormick for respondent-mother. BRYANT, Judge. In July 2007, petitioner Burke County Department of Social Services filed a juvenile petition alleging that D.A.H. ("David")1 and an older sister ("Deborah") were neglected juveniles. On 2 Heard in the Court

October 2007, the trial court entered a consent order adjudicating the two children neglected juveniles. The court appointed the The

paternal grandmother ("Grandmother") as guardian of Deborah.

trial court awarded custody of David to petitioner and authorized
1

Pseudonyms used to protect the identities of the children.

-2petitioner to place David with Grandmother. Following a permanency planning review hearing on 16 April 2009, the court entered an order dated 14 May 2009 granting custody and guardianship of David to Grandmother and granting continued visitation to David's mother. Respondent, David's biological mother, appeals. David's biological father did not appeal. For the reasons discussed below, we affirm

in part, reverse in part and remand for additional findings. Facts In the permanency planning order, the court adopted statements contained in the reports of the guardian ad litem and petitioner as findings of fact. The court also incorporated by reference These

findings of fact contained in prior orders in this matter. orders and reports show the following undisputed facts. Respondent gave birth to David in 2006. In May

2007,

respondent placed David with Grandmother in Burke County; David's older sister, Deborah, was already living there. 2 October 2007 of consent Deborah order, with the court Pursuant to the custody ordered and that

placed and

guardianship

Grandmother

reunification be attempted with David. hearing, the court entered an order

After a 30 October 2008 continuing the plan of

reunification with respondent, stating it was possible that David could be returned to respondent's home within six months.

Respondent subsequently gave birth in February 2009 to another child by a different father. At the time of the hearing giving

rise to this appeal on 16 April 2009, respondent resided in Asheville with the infant and its father. Respondent has one other

-3child in addition to David, Deborah and the infant. Respondent's

oldest child is in the custody of respondent's mother in another state. The court made the following findings of fact in the order under review here: 1. The Court adopts the statements contained in the reports of Ms. Craig and Ms. George as its findings and incorporates those reports herein by reference. The Court also incorporates herein by reference the findings of fact contained in its prior orders in this matter. 2. [David] continues to reside with [Grandmother]. He has resided in that placement for 23 out of his 28 months of life. He has a full sibling who resides with him there. He has bonded with his maternal grandmother and sister and is thriving in that placement. He attends daycare and is on target developmentally. His medical needs are being met. 3. [Respondent] continues to reside in Asheville with her boyfriend. They have been in a relationship for 1 year and 2 months. There is nothing negative about that relationship. They have a 2-month-old baby. [Respondent's] contact with the juvenile has been limited by her residing in Asheville and her lack of a driver's license and regular transportation. She is in compliance with her treatment expectations at the Women's Recovery Center, but she has a long history of substance abuse and mental health issues. All of her recent drug screens have been negative, but she has had a positive drug test within the past year. She attends weekly dialectical behavioral therapy groups. She continues to have a full-time job, but she is in arrears with her child support payments for the juvenile, due to her pregnancy and the birth of her baby. 4. [Father] is awaiting trial on old pending felony charges. He wants [David] to remain with [Grandmother].

-45. [Grandmother] understands the legal significance should the Court place the juvenile's custody and guardianship of the juvenile's person with her. She has the resources to meet the juvenile's needs. 6. [Petitioner's] efforts at reunification include providing the parents with case plans and referrals for parenting classes, employment resources, transportation resources, mental health services, and psychological evaluations. Based upon the foregoing, the court concluded that petitioner has made reasonable efforts to achieve a permanent home for David, that David's custody and guardianship should be placed with Grandmother, and that it is in David's interest to grant custody and

guardianship to Grandmother. continue to have up to

The Court also allowed respondent to hours of weekly unsupervised

eight

visitations in Burke County. _________________________ Respondent raises two issues on appeal, arguing that the trial court abused its discretion in entering (I) a permanency planning order appointing a legal guardian and legal custodian without making a required finding about whether the child could be returned to the mother's home and (II) a visitation order that did not provide a minimum period of time. As discussed below, we affirm in

part, reverse in part and remand for additional findings. I Respondent first contends the court abused its discretion by entering a permanency planning order appointing a guardian and legal custodian without making the necessary findings. We agree.

-5"Appellate review of a permanency planning order is limited to whether there is competent evidence in the record to support the findings [of fact] and the findings support the conclusions of law." In re J.C.S., 164 N.C. App. 96, 106, 595 S.E.2d 155, 161 When a child is not returned home, the

(2004) (citation omitted).

court must make written findings regarding: (1) Whether it is possible for the juvenile to be returned home immediately or within the next six months, and if not, why it is not in the juvenile's best interests to return home; (2) Where the juvenile's return home is unlikely within six months, whether legal guardianship or custody with a relative or some other suitable person should be established, and if so, the rights and responsibilities which should remain with the parents; (3) Where the juvenile's return home is unlikely within six months, whether adoption should be pursued and if so, any barriers to the juvenile's adoption; (4) Where the juvenile's return home is unlikely within six months, whether the juvenile should remain in the current placement or be placed in another permanent living arrangement and why; (5) Whether the county department of social services has since the initial permanency plan hearing made reasonable efforts to implement the permanent plan for the juvenile; (6) Any other criteria the court deems necessary. N.C. Gen. Stat.

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